Sue A. (Armstrong) Turner

New Salem, MA - Sue Anne (Armstrong) Turner, 69, departed this world on the morning of July 24th, 2023. Though our hearts are broken we know that she has found peace.

Sue was born April 5th, 1954 to Arthur and Jeannette (Case) Armstrong in Agawam.

She grew up in Wilbraham and graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School in 1972 and attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.

While in high school she raised money and collected clothing for orphans of the Vietnam War.

As a teen she enjoyed her time as a camp counselor in Old Orchard, Maine, for the Church in the Acres in Springfield.

Sue met Doug Turner when they were working at Riverside Park in Agawam in the spring of 1973 and they were married on October 11th, 1975 at Stanley Park in Westfield. They lived in Yorktown, Virginia until 1981. During that period Sue worked in data entry at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

 Sue managed the Doe Valley Deli in Orange and provided the pleasant voice of New Salem's Annual Rabbit Run 10K from 2006 to 2013 on local radio station WJDF.

Her passion for New England's cemeteries led her to become a member of the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) in Greenfield and her compassion served her well in her position as secretary for the New Salem Cemetery Commission since 2005.

Though initially shy, Sue had an engaging and charming personality. She made friends easily because of her openness and acceptance of peoples' differences without prejudice. She was a joy to all those whom she touched and was touched by all those whom she met.

She derived the most pleasure in family gatherings, seeing her children and grandchildren and watching them play, learn and grow. There was always an invitation to bake something together or a challenge to a card game accompanied by lots of love and laughter.

Sue played a mean game of Cribbage.

She became enthralled for months in planning and creating wondrous beautiful quilts for family and friends. When she was asked to repair heirloom quilts passed down through the family of a close friend, her artisan dedication and the results were inspirational to behold.

When she came across stored-away antique, handcrafted puzzles passed down through her family she took to repairing and replacing, restoring the missing pieces.

She was an avid reader of mysteries and historical fiction, keeping meticulous lists of each author's published work that she might read their selections in the order they were written.

Sue had a keen mind and was up to just about any SODUKU challenge. She could raise a tent, any tent, without the proper plans or equipment while the males of the party quietly followed her directives. Yet she had no complaints about doing without one, laying her sleeping bag down beneath the stars.

Horses, cats, cows and dogs trusted her immediately without fear. She was a goddess to the hummingbirds.

She was a lifelong member of the Secret Society of Sues, Susans and Suzannes.

Sue is survived by her husband of 47 years Doug, daughter Jessica Fellows, her husband Eric and granddaughter Morgan and grandson Pierce of Townsend, in addition to son Nathan Turner and his wife Stacy and grandson Noah of Leesburg, Florida. Her loving brother Steven Armstrong and his wife Julia reside in Keene, New Hampshire.

A graveside service is planned for 11:00AM August 10th at the North New Salem Cemetery on Fay Road, New Salem,followed by a celebration of Sue's life at the Central Congregational Church of New Salem on South Main Street in New Salem.

Please make donations in remembrance of Sue to the Children's Oncology Group Foundation, 3501 Civic Center Blvd, CTRB, Suite 10062 Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book and directions online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sue A. (Armstrong) Turner, please visit our floral store.